Pumpkin Tiramisu Cake

Image by Jason Leung from Unsplash Stock

Pumpkin Tiramisu Cake — pumpkin spice cake soaked with coffee liqueur, fluffy mascarpone frosting. Traditional tiramisu is all about booze, coffee, and creamy filling. Sticking with the classic dessert-theme, I created a Heritage frosting that still utilized tiramisu’s familiar mascarpone filling. This type of frosting is creamy and fluffy, further, the cakes were brushed with a soak made from coffee liqueur to better compliment the pumpkin flavour which makes this cake even more stunning and awe-worthy for the holidays.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

·     3 cups all-purpose flour

·     2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

·     2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

·     1/2 cup unsalted butter softened

·     1/4 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil

·     1/2 cups granulated sugar

·     1/2 cup brown sugar

·     4 eggs

·     1 can pumpkin puree (15 ounces)

For the Coffee Soak:

·     1/4 cup coffee liqueur

·     1/4 cup water

·     2 teaspoons instant espresso powder

·     1/2 cup sugar

For the Frosting:

·     5 tablespoons all-purpose flour

·     pinch salt

·     cup whole milk

·     3/4 cup unsalted butter softened

·     cup granulated sugar

·     1 teaspoon vanilla extract

·     pinch cinnamon

·     6 ounces mascarpone, softened

Image by Dan Gold from Pexels Stock

Directions:

For the Cake:

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour two 8-inch cake pans and set aside.

2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and pumpkin pie spice.  Set aside.

3. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until creamy.  Add in the oil, sugar, brown sugar and mix until combined.

4. Add in the eggs, one at a time, and mix until combined.

5. In two batches, stir in the dry ingredients.

6. Fold in the pumpkin puree.

7. Divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake for about 25 to 28 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before removing the cakes from their pans.

Make the Coffee Soak:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan and place over medium-high heat.  Bring the minute to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.

2. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the syrup thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before using.

Make the Frosting:

1. Place the flour, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan. Whisk until combined and there are no lumps from the flour.

2. Stirring with a wooden spoon, heat over medium-high until the mixture begins to thicken and large bubbles begin to break on the surface. The mixture will look thick and pasty when done. Remove from the heat and transfer the flour mixture to a heat-safe container. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the mixture and refrigerate until completely cool (about 30 to 45 minutes).

3. Once the flour mixture has cooled, beat together the butter and sugar until soft and creamy. Add in the flour mixture and continue to mix together on medium-high until the frosting is light, fluffy, and almost white in colour.

4. Add in the vanilla extract and cinnamon. Mix until combined.

5. Fold in the softened mascarpone until incorporated. Make sure that the mascarpone has softened and that you do not over-mix it.

Assemble:

1. Once the cake has cooled, generously brush on the coffee syrup.

2. Fill a pastry bag fitted with a shape you want and with the frosting and on one of the layers of cake. Place the second layer of cake on top and repeat.

3. Alternatively, fill and the cake with an off-set spatula and frost is as you wish.

Adapted from Tessa Huff

Girl with Pumpkin Images are by Kylie Paz from Unsplash Stock